Veteran Bedard appears to be an early favorite to make rotation

KISSIMMEE, Fla.  — If Erik Bedard’s healthy and on target by the end of spring training, he’ll likely receive a spot in the back end of the Astros’ starting rotation.

A week into the nine-year veteran’s run at Osceola County Stadium, Bedard’s on schedule.

The 33-year-old left-hander has shown good early movement on his breaking pitches and Astros manager Bo Porter said Tuesday that Bedard’s veteran mindset has paid dividends during the first stage of camp.

“I was really impressed. His cutter was really good, his changeup was good,” Porter said. “He actually threw a couple sliders that were backfoot sliders that were swing-and-miss.”

A busy body

Porter threw a batting-practice session Monday, then led cutoff drills Tuesday. The first-year Astros manager has maintained an active on-the-field role since spring training began.

The Astros’ depth chart was on display during the cutoff drill: Brett Wallace, Carlos Pena and Chris Carter were at first base; Jose Altuve at second; Tyler Greene and Marwin Gonzalez at shortstop; Matt Dominguez at third.

Then Harrell, who was wearing a karate-style bandana, jumped in a laundry cart. A Bud Norris Twitter-photo of Harrell followed. The smiling, relaxed pitcher didn’t budge.

“If he’s the captain, please help us,” Wright joked.

Rocket fuel

Astros special instructor Roger Clemens is planning to write a book that will mostly be instructional, but will also focus on his MLB playing days and family life. Clemens will also settle a few old scores.

“It’ll be a little bit of everything. But there are some people that need to get cut off at the knees, because they think they know me and they write for me and act like they know me,” Clemens said. “So we’ll have to cut them off at the knees.

More Clemens: The ex-Astros ace has no plans to coach or manage full time. He might throw room service batting practice Wednesday. Clemens wore flashy light-blue boots he said were from the 1986 MLB All-Star game at the Astrodome. ”The (Houston) rodeos coming, so I have to break them out,” he said.